Inclusion of triple single pill combination therapy for hypertension in WHO essential medicines list

Hypertension affects more than 1.4 billion people globally, yet only one in five have their blood pressure under control. The inclusion of triple single-pill combination therapy for hypertension in the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List marks a major milestone in addressing this global health challenge.

Most people with hypertension require more than one medicine to effectively manage and maintain blood pressure control. Triple single-pill combinations, particularly at low doses, provide a practical and impactful solution by simplifying treatment, improving adherence, and enabling more effective blood pressure control.

“

Inclusion of medicines in the WHO Essential Medicines List highlights their importance and serves as a pathway to making them widely accessible and affordable. We hope that national medicines list in individual countries will adopt the inclusion of triple single-pill combination of antihypertensive drugs to provide an effective option for healthcare professionals in managing hypertension.

By:

Dr Abdul Salam

Program Head, Cardiovascular, The George Institute for Global Health

This recognition by the World Health Organisation will accelerate progress toward the global target of achieving at least 50% hypertension control by 2040.

“

This listing marks a critical step forward for global hypertension care—recognising the evidence and equipping health systems to deliver simplified, effective treatment where it’s needed the most. The challenge now is to translate this into real access for patients everywhere, through large-scale implementation programs and adoption by individual countries.

By:

Gautam Satheesh

Research Associate, The George Institute for Global Health

The George Institute for Global Health extends its gratitude to all collaborators and partners whose collective efforts and shared commitment have made this possible. Together, we are advancing global cardiovascular health and moving closer to ensuring better outcomes for people living with hypertension worldwide.